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Effect 5-weeks pre-season training with small-sided game in RSA according

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DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.16.06263-0

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© 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2017 May;57(5):529-36
Online version at http://www.minervamedica.it DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.16.06263-0

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS

Effects of 5-week pre-season small-sided-game-based

training on repeat sprint ability
Alejandro RODRÍGUEZ-FERNÁNDEZ  1 *, Javier SÁNCHEZ SÁNCHEZ  2,
José A. RODRÍGUEZ-MARROYO  1, David CASAMICHANA  3, José G. VILLA  1

1Institute
of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of León, León, Spain; 2Unit of Sport
Training Assessment and Planning, Faculty of Physical Education, Pontifical University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain; 3Department
of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU),
Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
*Corresponding author: Alejandro Rodríguez-Fernández, Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of León, Campus Vegazana s/n, 24071,
León, Spain. E-mail: arodrf06@estudiantes.unileon.es

A B S T RAC T
BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have analyzed during competitive season different conditioning programs to improve soccer players’ repeat
sprint ability (RSA). However, few studies have focused on analyzing what happens with this ability after small-sided-game- (SSG-) -based
training. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the changes in physical performance after 5 weeks of pre-season training composed of
SSGs in amateur soccer players.
METHODS: Twenty-four male soccer players performed RSA, a sit-and-reach and two vertical jump (squat and countermovement jump) tests
before and after 5 weeks of pre-season training mainly consisting of SSGs.
RESULTS: The pre-season training induced a significant improvement (P<0.05) in RSA and flexibility performance. However, no significant
improvements were analyzed during the vertical jump tests. Soccer players with worst initial RSA performance, improved significantly (P<0.05)
their fastest sprint (~2.5%) and the total time (~3.0%) during the RSA. No changes in soccer players with better initial RSA performance were
analyzed.
CONCLUSIONS: A pre-season composed of training sessions performed basically through SSGs during 5 week improves the RSA performance
in amateur soccer players, especially in those with the worst initial performance level.
(Cite this article as: Rodríguez-Fernández A, Sánchez Sánchez J, Rodríguez-Marroyo JA, Casamichana D, Villa JG. Effects of 5-week pre-season
small-sided-game-based training on repeat sprint ability. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2017;57:529-36. DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.16.06263-0)
Key words: Soccer - Physical education and training - Athletic performance.

S occer players perform intermittent actions of dif-

ferent intensity and duration in soccer games. This
requires to use of the aerobic and anaerobic energy sys-
tems.1 The training of these actions has traditionally
been addressed through general exercises in the form
of continuous running or high-intensity interval train-
or other proprietary information of the Publisher.
and simultaneously develop technical and tactical skill
at high intensities,7, 8 requiring players to face high fa-
tigue and pressure.9 Through these tasks, players can
achieve an overall performance improvement 6, 10-12 in
a climate of high motivation.13 The suitability of these
tasks is justified by the principle of specificity,14 which

ing.2-5 However, this perspective has lost relevance in determines that the more similarity between training
favor of more specific tasks.6 In this sense, small-sided and competition, the greater benefits associated with the
games (SSGs) have been used as specific conditioning training process.15
since these games simulate specific movement patterns It has been reported that the intensity associated to

Vol. 57 - No. 5 The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 529
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means which may allow access to the Article. The use of all or any part of the Article for any Commercial Use is not permitted. The creation of derivative works from the Article is not permitted. The production of reprints for personal or commercial use i
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SMALL-SIDED-GAME-BASED TRAINING AND REPEAT SPRINT ABILITY RODRÍGUEZ-FERNÁNDEZ
specific tasks or sport-specific movements (i.e., SSGs)
may be comparable to that recorded in running interval
training.11, 12, 16, 17 However, it has also been noted that
SSG-based conditioning may be insufficient in players
with high aerobic condition and good technical and tac-
tical level since it has been observed that players with a
greater VO2max show a low level of this parameter dur-
ing the practice of these tasks.18 Nevertheless, SSGs al-
low to vary the exercise intensity altering different vari-
ables such as the pitch dimension per player, number
of players, coach encouragement, training regimen, and
intervention rules so as the soccer players’ performance
can be improved.19, 20
Repeated sprint ability (RSA) has been reported to
be as one of the determinants of performance in soc-
cer  21-24 since maximal efforts interspersed with brief
recovery interval performed during the match are as-
sociated with critical moments of the game.25 RSA
has been linked to factors such as the type of muscle
excitability, energy, accumulation of metabolites, and
neural factors such as the transmission of nerve im-
pulses and muscle fiber recruitment.21 Numerous stud-
ies have analyzed during competitive season different
conditioning methods to improve the RSA: repeated
sprints vs. explosive power,26 repeated sprints vs. in-
terval training,4 high- and moderate-intensity train-
ing,3 and generic training vs. SSGs.16 However, the
most appropriate strategies to achieve this goal are not
well defined.27 Few studies have focused on analyzing
what happens with this ability after SSG-based train-
ing during the pre-season.16 In the same way, few stud-
ies have reported that the same training stimulus may
have a different result depending on the initial level of
physical condition of the player.28 Therefore, the aim
of this study was to determine the effect of a 5-week
pre-season training composed of SSGs on RSA, jump,
and flexibility performance in amateur soccer players.
On the other hand, the effect of players’ initial level of
RSA on performance was analyzed.
Materials and methods
Twenty-four amateur soccer players (mean age
18.7±1.7 years; height 175.6±6.2 cm; body mass
66.7±8.5 kg) took part in this study. Players belonged to
or other proprietary information of the Publisher.
two U18 top regional category teams, and had previous
experience as soccer players (6.1±2.0 years). All sub-
jects were in very good health and none of them were
injured for 3 months before the initial testing sessions.
530 The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness May 2017
The study was conducted according to the Declaration
of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained
from the subjects before starting the study, which was
approved by the local Ethics Committee.
Procedures
The study was carried out throughout the 5 pre-sea-
son weeks. During this time, only training sessions and
friendly matches were performed. At the beginning and
the end of this period three tests were performed: a re-
peat sprint ability test (RSA test), flexibility test (sit-
and-reach test) and vertical jump test. The tests were
performed in two consecutive days. The first day sub-
jects performed the RSA test and the second day the sit-
and-reach and the vertical jump tests. Tests conditions
(day, time and facility) and warm-up were standardized
for all subjects. It was recommended to players refrain-
ing from vigorous high-intensity exercise 24 hours be-
fore the testing sessions and from eating and drinking
caffeine or energy drinks 4 hours before the beginning
of the test. Taking ergogenic supplements during the
study were not allowed to the players.
Training protocol
During the pre-season, training program consisted of
5 training sessions per week and during the last three
weeks a friendly match (Table I). Four training ses-
sions were performed fundamentally using SSGs and
one training session using specific technical-tactical
exercises. All SSGs were carried out on an outdoor, ar-
tificial grass field. The SSG training program was se-
lected based on the pre-season physical condition aim
using different variations (i.e., number of players, field
dimensions, coach encouragement, and presence or ab-
sence of goalkeepers) 6, 10, 29, 30 (Table II). A week before
testing session, players performed 2 running training
sessions at moderate exercise intensity (i.e., 60-80%
of the maximum heart rate) and one familiarization
session with the performance tests was designed. All
training sessions lasted 90 minutes. The warm-up rou-
tine consisted in: low-intensity aerobic exercises, joint
mobility exercises, technical work in pairs, and stretch-
ing; hydration and passive recovery; then, depending on
the aim of the session, the players performed SSGs or
technical-tactical tasks.
not permitted. It is not permitted to remove, cover, overlay, obscure, block, or change any copyright notices or terms of use which the Publisher may post on the Article. It is not permitted to frame or use framing techniques to enclose any trademark, log
means which may allow access to the Article. The use of all or any part of the Article for any Commercial Use is not permitted. The creation of derivative works from the Article is not permitted. The production of reprints for personal or commercial use i
This document is protected by international copyright laws. No additional reproduction is authorized. It is permitted for personal use to download and save only one file and print only one copy of this Article. It is not permitted to make additional copies
(either sporadically or systematically, either printed or electronic) of the Article for any purpose. It is not permitted to distribute the electronic copy of the article through online internet and/or intranet file sharing systems, electronic mailing or any other
©
COPYRIGHT 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA
RODRÍGUEZ-FERNÁNDEZ SMALL-SIDED-GAME-BASED TRAINING AND REPEAT SPRINT ABILITY

Table I.—Organization of small-sided games during 5 weeks training program.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Week 0 FAM RSA JUMP+SAR
Week 1 SSGs 1 SSGs 1 TEC-TAC SSGs 2 SSGs 1 SSGs 2 R
Week 2 SSGs 1 SSGs 2 TEC-TAC SSGs 2 SSGs 2 SSGs 1 R
Week 3 SSGs 3 SSGs 3 TEC-TAC SSGs 3 SSGs 4 M R
Week 4 SSGs 3 SSGs 4 TEC-TAC SSGs 4 SSGs 3 R M
Week 5 TEC-TAC SSGs 4 SSGs 5 SSGs 4 SSGs 5 TEC-TAC M
Week 6 TEC-TAC R RSA R JUMP+SAR R M
FAM: familiarization session; RSA: repeat sprint ability test; JUMP: vertical jump test; SAR: sit-and-reach test; SSG: small-sided game; R: recovery; TEC-TAC:
technical-tactical training; M: friendly match.

Table II.—Description of small-sided games used in the training program.

Players Sets Pitch size (m) %HRmax Ratio per player (m2) Total time (min)
3×20 min 80.5±0.4 150.0
Week 1 8 vs. 8 60×40 60
R=3 min
3×20 min 81.2±1.3 100.0
Week 2 6 vs. 6 40×30 60
R=3 min
4×12 min 83.4±1.7 100.0
Week 3 6 vs. 6+G 40×30 48
R=1 min
2×4×4 min 89.1±0.9 93.8
Week 4 4 vs. 4 30×25 32
R=1min
Week 5 4 vs. 4+G 2×1×12-min 30×25 92.1 ±1.6 93.8 24
%HRmax: percentage of maximum heart rate; R: recovery between sets; G: goalkeepers.

Repeat sprint ability test Sit-and-reach test

Immediately after a standardized warm-up of 10 min-
utes consisting in: low-intensity running, accelerations,
and dynamic stretching exercises, the soccer players per-
formed a single 30-meter sprint (DSD Laser System®,
DSD Inc., León, Spain), which was used as a criterion
score (i.e., best time).31 Five minutes later, players per-
formed an RSA test, which consisted of 8×30-m maxi-
mal sprints, with a 25-second active recovery period to
run back to the start. Players initiated the sprints posi-
tioned the foot 0.5 m behind the first photoelectric cell
to prevent false triggering of the first timing gate.32 The
RSA results were only considered when the time of the
RSA first sprint was not worse (>2.5%) than the time in
the single 30-m sprint.31 The parameters analyzed were:
the fastest sprint (RSAbest), the total time (RSAtotal) and
the mean time (RSAmean) of the sprints. In addition, the
percentage of decrease (Sdec) was calculated as:33
Sdec = [(RSAtotal/RSAbest × total sprints) ×100] – 100.
or other proprietary information of the Publisher.
After the standardized 10 min warm-up (i.e., low-
intensity running and dynamic stretching exercise) the
subjects removed their shoes and sat in a straight-legged
position with their feet flat against the sit-and-reach
testing box (Baseline® Sit ‘n’ Reach® Trunk Flexibil-
ity Box, Fabrication Enterprise Inc., White Plains, NY,
USA). Players placed one hand on the other, with the
middle fingers aligned and elbows extended. Players
reached forward with their hands placed on top of the
sit-and-reach box, as far as possible, without bending
their knees. The feet were considered as zero, and each
subject’s score was recorded as the distance from the
tip of the middle finger to the feet. Both positive and
negative scores were thus measurable. Three flexibility
measures were taken with a 3-min recovery time, and
the best result was chosen.34
Jump test

To analyze the results according to the players’ RSA After the sit-and-reach test, players performed 10
level, they were split in two groups (group of best play- minutes of activation exercises (i.e., explosive jumping
ers [BG] vs. group of worst players [WG]) using the exercises and 2×10-m accelerations with a 30 seconds’
RSAmean values.26 rest between each set) to prepare the vertical jump test.

Vol. 57 - No. 5 The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 531
not permitted. It is not permitted to remove, cover, overlay, obscure, block, or change any copyright notices or terms of use which the Publisher may post on the Article. It is not permitted to frame or use framing techniques to enclose any trademark, log
means which may allow access to the Article. The use of all or any part of the Article for any Commercial Use is not permitted. The creation of derivative works from the Article is not permitted. The production of reprints for personal or commercial use i
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©
COPYRIGHT 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA
RODRÍGUEZ-FERNÁNDEZ SMALL-SIDED-GAME-BASED TRAINING AND REPEAT SPRINT ABILITY

Table III.—Results before (pre-test) and after (post-test) of pre-season training program with SSGs.
Pre-test Post-test Δ (%) Cohen’s d
SAR (cm) 25.9±1.8 29.4±1.6* 19.0±28.6 2.10
SJ (m) 0.36±1.06 0.35±0.92 -1.0±10.9 0.01
CMJ (m) 0.37±1.43 0.36±0.95 -1.4±14.0 0.01
RSAbest (s) 3.87±0.04 3.81±0.03 1.5±4.2 1.73
RSAmean (s) 4.03±0.04 3.97±0.03* 1.5±3.3 1.73
RSAtotal (s) 32.26±0.31 31.76±0.25* 1.5±3.3 1.81
Sdec (%) 4.26±0.34 4.32±0.39 -0.1±2.7 0.17
SAR: sit-and-reach test; SJ: squat jump; CMJ: countermovement jump; RSAbest: best time; RSAmean: mean time; RSAtotal: total time; Sdec: percent decrement; Δ:
percent change.
*Statistically significant differences (P<0.05).

Table IV.—Results from pre-training and post-training pre-season with small-sided games in the best group (BG) and worst group (WG)
determined by initial performance in RSAmean.
Pre-test Post-test Δ (%) Cohen’s d
BG 26.9±9.9 29.6±9.0* 16.5±31.3 0.30
SAR (cm)
WG 24.5±6.6 29.1±6.7* 22.8±25.7 0.72
BG 0.37±0.01 0.36±0.05 -2.8±9.9 0.29
SJ (m)
WG 0.35±0.05 0.36±0.05 1.5±12.2 0.21
BG 0.38±0.05 0.37±0.04 -0.7±12.2 0.23
CMJ (m)
WG 0.37±0.10 0.35±0.05 -2.4±19.8 0.26
BG 3.77±0.12 3.73±0.15 0.8±4.9 0.31
RSAbest (s)
WG 4.01±0.17 † 3.91±0.11* 2.5±3.0 0.73
BG 3.91±0.09 3.89±0.12 0.4±3.8 0.20
RSAmean (s)
WG 4.20±0.16 † 4.08±0.14* 2.9±1.7 † 0.83
BG 31.31±0.71 31.16±0.98 0.4±3.8 0.18
RSAtotal (s)
WG 33.60±1.28 † 32.61±1.10* 2.9±1.7 † 0.87
BG 3.98±1.39 4.42±1.73 -0.4±2.1 0.29
Sdec (%)
WG 4.65±2.00 4.19±2.24 0.5±3.4 0.23
SAR: sit-and-reach test; SJ: squat jump; CMJ: countermovement jump; RSAbest: best time; RSAmean: mean time; RSAtotal: total time; Sdec: percent decrement; Δ:
percent change.
*Statistically significant difference between tests (P<0.05); † significant differences between groups (P<0.05).

Jump performance was assessed by calculating the time
of flight (Globus Ergo System, Globus, Codagnè, Italy)
of two maximal vertical jumps: squat (SJ) and counter
movement (CMJ) jumps.35 Both tests were performed
with both hands fixed to subjects’ waist and knee flex-
ion was freely chosen so that subjects were able to jump
as high as possible. Each player performed three jumps
with a rest period of 1-min in-between. The best jump
of each modality was selected to analyze.
Statistical analyses
or other proprietary information of the Publisher.
vention values by pre-intervention values and were ex-
pressed as a percentage. The median was used to split
the players into two groups according to their RSA per-
formance:32, 36 the best (RSAmean<4.03 s) and the worst
(RSAmean≥4.03  s) players. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov
test was applied to ensure a Gaussian distribution of
all results. A two-way ANOVA (time [pre vs. post in-
tervention] × group [best vs. worst players]) with re-
peated measures on time was used to analyze the results
obtained. When a significant F value was found, Bon-
ferroni’s test was applied to establish significant differ-

ences between means. Pearson’s test (r) was employed

The results are expressed as mean±standard devia- for the calculation of correlations. Values of P<0.05
tion. Change in tests performance were determinated were considered statistically significant. Effect sizes
by dividing the difference between post- and pre-inter- (Cohen’s d) were also calculated, and values of <0.41,

532 The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness May 2017
not permitted. It is not permitted to remove, cover, overlay, obscure, block, or change any copyright notices or terms of use which the Publisher may post on the Article. It is not permitted to frame or use framing techniques to enclose any trademark, log
means which may allow access to the Article. The use of all or any part of the Article for any Commercial Use is not permitted. The creation of derivative works from the Article is not permitted. The production of reprints for personal or commercial use i
This document is protected by international copyright laws. No additional reproduction is authorized. It is permitted for personal use to download and save only one file and print only one copy of this Article. It is not permitted to make additional copies
(either sporadically or systematically, either printed or electronic) of the Article for any purpose. It is not permitted to distribute the electronic copy of the article through online internet and/or intranet file sharing systems, electronic mailing or any other
©
COPYRIGHT 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA
SMALL-SIDED-GAME-BASED TRAINING AND REPEAT SPRINT ABILITY RODRÍGUEZ-FERNÁNDEZ

0.41-0.70 and >0.70 were considered small, moderate

Best players group (mean time <4.03 s)
and large, respectively. SPSS v. 17.0 statistical software
(IBM Corp., Chicago, IL, USA) was used. Pre-training

Post-training
Results

Time (s)
During the 5 weeks of pre-season training, the play-
ers underwent 29 conditioning training sessions, for a
total time of 2070 minutes of SSGs (79.3% of total pre-
season training time). Significant (P<0.05) improve-
ments in flexibility and RSA performance were ob-
tained (Table III). When the performance was analyzed
according to the players’ RSA level only a significant
(P<0.05) improvement in the sit-and-reach test in BG
was obtained. However, in the WG significant (P<0.05) Sprint

differences between pre- and post-training values in the Worst players group (mean time ≥4.03 s)
sit-and-reach and RSA test were found (Table IV). This
fact involved that the significant (P<0.05) differences
analyzed between both groups at the beginning of the
pre-season training disappeared (Table IV). The time
per each sprint performed during the RSA test is showed
in the Figure 1. Significant (P<0.05) changes between
Time (s)

the sprints performed during the pre- and post-test were

only found in WG (Figure 1). Relationships between the
initial values in Sdec, RSAtotal or RSAmean and the per-
centage of change in this variables were found (r=0.71,
P<0.001 and r=0.54, P<0.01, respectively).

Discussion
Sprint
Different studies have showed improvements in the
RSA test when SSG-based conditioning were used. All players
Changes in RSA parameter such as RSAbest, and Sdec
have been obtained.6, 11, 31 These previous results accord
well with those obtained in the present study (i.e., im-
provements in RSAtotal or RSAmean). It allows to con-
Time (s)

sider the SSG-based conditioning as optimal strategy

to increase the RSA performance and an alternative
training method to the intervallic athletic training in the
amateur soccer players. Improving players’ capacity to
repeat maximum efforts should be an important goal.
Although, high-intensity and short-time actions repre-
sent ~3% of the actions performed during a match, are
or other proprietary information of the Publisher.

relevant to the soccer’s performance.21, 37, 38 Sprint

The ability to repeat short-duration sprints (<10  s)
Figure 1.—Time during the 8×30-meter RSA test.
with small recovery periods is related to a mixed meta- *Statistically-significant differences between pre- and post-training
bolic disposition.38 Although, the aerobic metabolism (P<0.05).

Vol. 57 - No. 5 The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 533
not permitted. It is not permitted to remove, cover, overlay, obscure, block, or change any copyright notices or terms of use which the Publisher may post on the Article. It is not permitted to frame or use framing techniques to enclose any trademark, log
means which may allow access to the Article. The use of all or any part of the Article for any Commercial Use is not permitted. The creation of derivative works from the Article is not permitted. The production of reprints for personal or commercial use i
This document is protected by international copyright laws. No additional reproduction is authorized. It is permitted for personal use to download and save only one file and print only one copy of this Article. It is not permitted to make additional copies
(either sporadically or systematically, either printed or electronic) of the Article for any purpose. It is not permitted to distribute the electronic copy of the article through online internet and/or intranet file sharing systems, electronic mailing or any other
©
COPYRIGHT 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA
RODRÍGUEZ-FERNÁNDEZ SMALL-SIDED-GAME-BASED TRAINING AND REPEAT SPRINT ABILITY
contribution during a sprint is limited (8%, when maxi-
mum-intensity and short-duration efforts are repeated),
the total contribution to obtain energy increase to 40%
when repeated sprint are performed.39 Therefore, the
aerobic improvement associated with the participation
of players in periodic SSG programs 11 influences the
RSA  40 and, especially, improves the RSAmean.21 Also,
parallel changes in the Sdec and VO2max after perform-
ing a SSGs program have been informed.6 On the other
hand, a higher players’ aerobic fitness can facilitate
the contribution of the oxidative process during the re-
covery, which will minimize the muscle decline of the
phosphocreatine concentration, and will limit the anaer-
obic glycolysis intervention.37, 40-42  he VO2max influence
over the alactic substrate recovery is very significant in
subjects with medium-low aerobic power.43 However,
when players have a high aerobic power, the phospho-
creatine depots recovery and their performance in re-
peated actions at high intensity depends on the glyco-
lytic enzyme concentration.44 It can be speculated that
subjects from this study improved their capacity to re-
peat sprints by an improvement of the anaerobic instead
of the aerobic metabolism. It has been described that a
decrease of RSAmean unchanged of Sdec is because of
the improvement in the anaerobic performance instead
of the recovery capacity between sprints.4
In spite of the results obtained in this study, coaches
should take into consideration that SSGs need to have
specific conditions to improve positively the players’
physical fitness.19 As it has been previously reported 28
the SSG-based conditioning performed in the present
study did not improve neither the jump performance nor
the RSAbest (Table III). However, the outcomes obtained
disagree with those studies that used an athletic-based
conditioning (i.e., high intensity runs) during the pre-
season training.5 Only WG improved significantly the
RSAbest. Improvements of these variables in professional
soccer players during the season, when an athletic-based
conditioning was performed (15×15 s at 120% VO2max)
have been observed.45 However, SSG-based condition-
ing could be more interesting to coaches during this pe-
riod since these tasks require a specific muscular work.11
In addition, the combination of different task-configura-
or other proprietary information of the Publisher.
tion variables (e.g., pitch dimensions, number of players,
rules) could allow vary the exercise intensity in a moti-
vating way according to the planned goal.19, 30, 46
When the results were analyzed according to the
534 The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness May 2017
players’ initial level (BG [RSAmean<4.03  s] vs. WG
[RSAmean≥4.03  s]) it turned out that the same training
performed did not cause the same effect over the play-
ers. The RSA performance in WG vs. BG was improved
significantly (Table IV, Figure 1). Possibly, the exercise
intensity performed during the SSGs were different in
both groups, which could affect the results obtained. In
this sense, an inverse relationship (r=-0.88) between the
exercise intensity performed during sport-specific tasks
and VO2max in handball players has been reported.18
Limitations of the study
A potential limitation of this study was not to in-
troduce a control group. We had difficulty getting that
coaches of other teams allowed us to intervene in the
training sessions during this critical period of the sea-
son. Nonetheless, players of this study performed ~80%
of the total training time using a SSG-based training.
Therefore, it can be thought that the changes in the RSA
performance were due to the training performed dur-
ing the pre-season, especially in those players with the
worst initial values. On the other hand, differences be-
tween the RSA protocols used in this study and other
studies  6, 11, 28, 31 could explain the different pattern ob-
served in the variables analyzed. The RSA protocol se-
lect in this study, i.e. 8×30 m with 25 s active recovery,
was similar to those used in other studies.32, 47 Finally,
the different training load executed by players could
determine the results found in the different studies and
explain the different findings analyzed between BP and
WP in the present study.28
Conclusions
A 5-week pre-season training mainly consisting of
SSG sessions improves the RSA performance in ama-
teur soccer players, especially in those with the worst
initial performance level (RSAmean≥4.03  s). However,
this training was not enough to improve the performance
with the best initial performance level (RSAmean<4.03 s).
These players may need to increase their pre-season
work with other type of training (e.g., generic training,
weight training) or to find other more suitable combina-
tions of the different variables that characterize SSGs
(i.e., pitch dimension per player, number of players,
rules, work-to-rest ratio).
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SMALL-SIDED-GAME-BASED TRAINING AND REPEAT SPRINT ABILITY RODRÍGUEZ-FERNÁNDEZ
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bic Fitness Using Small-Sided Soccer Games: Methodological Pro-

46. Clemente F, Martins F, Mendes R. Developing Aerobic and Anaero-

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Acknowledgements.—The authors are grateful to the subjects and to their parents for their willingness to contribute to this study.
Article first published online: October 13, 2016. - Manuscript accepted: March 30, 2016. - Manuscript revised: March 11, 2016. - Manuscript received:

May 2017
Conflicts of interest.—The authors certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript.
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47. Ratel S, Williams C, Oliver J, Armstrong N. Effects of age and mode
SMALL-SIDED-GAME-BASED TRAINING AND REPEAT SPRINT ABILITY